Headsets

ABSTRACT

A detector for detecting the connection of an accessory including a microphone and/or the state of a switch associated with the microphone for a mobile device, wherein the detector comprises a first flag generator for time multiplexing the detection of a signal above a predetermined threshold for each of two comparators, such that for one time period one comparator output is detected and for a second time period the second comparator output is detected to thereby form a first flag; a second flag generator for determining the connection of microphone to thereby generate a second flag; a lookup table for determining the connection of the accessory and/or the state of the microphone switch from the first and second flags.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to headsets for example, for mobile equipment such as phones, pdas, players and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different types of equipment may have a headset connected thereto. The equipment includes mobile phones, pdas, mp3 players etc. The headset connection is generally made by way of a jack which plugs into the equipment or may be by an equivalent wireless connectivity.

In the case where the headset is also equipped with a microphone, the headset includes a send/end button which allows the user to start and finish a voice transmission for example for a phone call. The button press is detectable in the device, using a serial button circuit as shown in FIG. 1. The button 100 located in the headphone is serially connected and is normally closed. When the headset is inserted or removed or the button is pressed the circuit in for example FIGS. 2 a and 2 b detected these events.

For FIG. 2 a when the headset is inserted the MCB voltage is driven to zero by the low impedance of the microphone and the flag rises to 1. With reference to FIG. 2 b, when the send/end button is pressed the current flow through the switch is cut and the MCB voltage rises to 2·775V. This causes the flag to drop to 0. The flag events are an indicator of the state of the headset and are used to start and finish a phone call. The detection system for the switch as shown is in essence a low value DC pull-up current source and a voltage comparator having a threshold set midway between ground and an audio supply. This mode of operation is highly efficient and allows a long standby period with minimum power consumption.

A need has now arisen to have a different mode of operation of a headset. That is to have voice activated dialing or control using the headset, for example for switching the phone from standby to active mode or vice-versa. In these situations there are more states than in the prior art mode of operation and thus detection of these is more complex. In addition, the standby power consumption modes must be preserved in order that the different operational modes do not impact battery functionality and that all the different states of the microphone can be identified without unnecessary power consumption. A further consideration which is taken into account is to adopt more cost effective means of switching on the headset, for example to use a parallel rather than serial switch.

An object of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the problems associated with the prior art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a low power detection system for recognising different states of a headset fitted with a parallel and/or series switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a detector device and a method for operating a detector device as defined in the accompanying claims.

The invention has the advantage that a time multiplexing detection of the headset connection and Send/End switch state ensures minimum standby power consumption. The detecting method and circuit ensures compatibility for both serial and/or parallel switches on the headset and allows detection of all the different states of the headset in each mode of operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made by way of example, the accompanying drawings in which:—

FIG. 1 is a prior art diagram showing a headset and a serial switch.

FIG. 2A is a prior art diagram showing the detection of insertion or removal of the headset.

FIG. 2B is a prior art diagram showing the detection of the send/end key activation in the case of a serial switch.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the electrical behaviour of a headset microphone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a table describing the voltage levels and states for different cases for the FIG. 3 circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 a is a simplified state machine diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 b is the graph associated with the state machine of FIG. 6 a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the method steps according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a circuit for detecting the connection of a headset/accessory according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 3 shows a detection system 300 for detecting the state of a headset having either a parallel or serial switch (SW) for activation purposes. The detection system 300 is in the form of an integrated circuit located in the phone. The circuit includes the following main elements which will each be described in greater detail below:

-   -   a voltage regulator (mic Bias);     -   two current sources (I_Hi, I_Lo);     -   two detection comparators (Comp_Hi, Comp_Lo);     -   a microphone (310) which is shown in greater detail in circle         312 (in particular the JFET);     -   a parallel switch SW1;     -   a detection state machine (314);     -   an IC pin (MCB);     -   a debouncer (316)     -   a voltage source (V audio (2·775V));     -   various other components and connections as shown in the         diagram.

Graph 318 shows the electrical behavior of the microphone in respect of current Imic versus voltage Vmic. In the first part of the curve 320 the increase in the Imic causes only a small voltage with not much change over the first 300 μA. This makes detection of a current change very difficult. However above Iq of the device the voltage changes substantially with current and difference levels are much easier to detect. This thus means that activation of the parallel switch is much more complicated to detect than activation of a serial switch. This is due to the fact that with only a low value pull up current source (as in the prior art) it is very difficult to identify the difference between insertion of the headset jack into the phone and closing the parallel switch. This is because both draw the IC pin voltage (MCB) close to zero and the difference between the two values cannot be detected. Accordingly an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3 which uses an additional high value current source and makes use of the non-linearity of the JFET of the microphone. This will now be described in more detail.

It is assumed that insertion and/or deletion of the headset is not accompanied by a send/end button press. The high value current source is used to distinguish a connection of the microphone (or headset) from a closed parallel switch. This high value current source is enabled periodically by the state machine 314 and outputs the detection flag MCBS. Microphones are built in such a way that they contain a JFET or other semiconductor device, which controls their output current. I_Hi is set to be higher than the quiescent current Iq drawn by the JFET (100 μA to 500 μA) so that the MCB voltage rises close to Vaudio when switch SW1 is open. This in turn causes MCB_Hi (the output form the comparator Comp_Hi) to go high. By comparison when the switch SW1 is closed, I_Hi flows through the relatively low resistance path of the switch, which causes the MCB voltage to go low (eg ˜6 mV.). This in turn causes the MCB_Lo (the output from the comparator Comp_Lo) to go high. The outputs MCB_Hi and MCB_Lo are detected by the detection state machine 314 and output flag MCBS is generated.

Using the high current source is a drain on power which can have a negative impact on standby power consumption and periods. However it is necessary to use the high current source for some of the detection of states. Accordingly the embodiment of the invention proposes the use of time multiplexing in the detection of the microphone (headset) connection and/or serial switch state and for the detection of the parallel switch state.

The manner in which this works is shown with reference to timing diagrams of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows the graph of current injected into the MCB pin versus time. It also shows the graph of MCB voltage versus time for three different situations. There are two time periods shown T1 and T2. T1 is of the order of 10 ms and during this time on the low current source (I_Lo) is on (400). T2 is a much shorter time period of the order of 100 μs and during this time the high current source is switched on (402). The current into the IC pin (MCB) is thus as shown in the first timing graph 1. The next three graphs 2-4 show three different scenarios A, B and C.

In scenario A there is no microphone (or headset) connected, or there is a microphone connected but the serial switch is opened. During time period T1 if there is no headset MCB is pulled up to the audio supply VAUDIO by the low current source (I_Lo). The threshold of comp_Hi is 2·1V and in this state the output MCBHi is 1. Similarly during time T2 the MCB voltage is pulled up to VAUDIO by the high current source (I_Hi). As the threshold voltage of comp_Lo is 0.6V, the output of MCBLo is 0.

In scenario B (in graph 3) the headset or the microphone is inserted and the parallel switch is open. During time T1 the MCB voltage is low and below the threshold voltage of comp_Hi and thus the output of MCBHi is low (O). However during time T2 the MCB voltage is high and above the threshold of comp_Lo. Thus the output of MCBLo is low (0).

Finally in scenario C (in graph 4) the headset or microphone is inserted and the parallel switch is closed (to activate the send/end command). During both T1 and T2 the MCB voltage is very low due to the fact that a low resistance flow of current is facilitated through the switch. Thus MCB voltage is below the thresholds of both Comp_Hi and Comp_Lo giving rise to output MCBHi being low (0) during time T1 and output MCBLo being high (1) during time T2.

By taking into account the state (low or high) of MCBHi and MCBlo in each cycle the status of the headphones or microphone (and the send/end switch) can be determined. The cycle is the time between each time (T2) I_Hi is on. In order to minimize current consumption T2 is on only a small fraction of the cycle time. For example:

T2/(T1+T2)= 1/100.

Thus the average system consumption remains low, as given by:

${\langle{Iq}\rangle} = {\left( {\frac{T\; 2}{{T\; 1} + {T\; 2}} \cdot {IHi}} \right) + \left( {\frac{T\; 1}{{T\; 1} + {T\; 2}} \cdot {ILo}} \right)}$

In the current example as shown in the circuit of FIG. 3 this equates to

6 μA+6 μA=12 μA

The FIG. 3 circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention can also be used to detect the microphone and serial switch activation. This means that the same circuit can be used for headphone/microphone with either a serial or parallel switch. The details of how each state is detected are shown. For each state a determination is made during T1 and T2 to determine if MCB is above the respective thresholds (Vth_Hi and Vth_Lo). From the answers the MCBS bit is determined. The table in FIG. 5 shows:—

-   -   no headset;     -   headset without microphone;     -   head set with microphone;     -   head set with microphone serial switch closed;     -   head set with microphone serial switch open,     -   head set with microphone parallel switch open     -   head set with microphone parallel switch closed.

This gives the MCBS bit. A software code can discriminate between headset insertion and removal and send/end button press due to a second flag which is a headset detect sense bit. This can be provided either by mechanical means (additional contact in the phone jack barrel which makes or breaks an electrical connection when the jack plug is inserted) or electrical means for instance speaker impedance detection. If the headset is still present when a MCBS state change is detected, this means the Send/End Key was pressed or released. If the headset detect sense bit and MCBS bit have both changed state, then this means the headset has been inserted or removed. Thus from the first flag (MCBS bit) as shown in the table the state of the activated send/end switch can be determined (ie serial open; parallel closed). This distinction between this and the presence or not of a microphone (no headset; headset without microphone) is determined form the headset detect sense bit. If MCBS bit is zero and headset detect sense bit is zero there is no microphone. Whilst if MCBS bit is zero and headset detect sense bit is one there has been a button press on the switch. Details of the headset detection sense bit will be described in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIG. 6 a an example of simplified state machine diagram is shown. The inputs are:—

-   -   MCBHi (Vth_Hi˜2.1V);     -   MCBlo (Vth_Lo˜0.6V);     -   Counter 1_end (T1˜10 ms);     -   Counter 2_end (T2˜100μ).

All are shown in bold on the arrows in FIG. 6 a.

The outputs are:—

-   -   MCBS;     -   I_Hi_EN     -   Counter 1_EN     -   Counter 2_EM

All are shown in boxes 600(a), (b), (c) and (d), where (a) is state 1, (b) is state 2, (c) is state 3 and (d) is state 4. The details of each state are shown in circles 1 to 4 (602 a-602 d respectively). The hashing or pattern in each circle is indicative of the corresponding that in the graphs shown in FIG. 6 b, and is used to determine the first flag (MCBS bit) in the state determination process for both parallel and serial switches. The graphs also show the effect of the debouncer 316 in FIG. 3. The debouncer is used to handle glitches on the ICpin (MCB) or if the state machine gives an error or a short circuit occurs.

The basic method steps as carried out to detect the microphone and switch activation are shown in the flow chart of FIG. 7. The first flag (MCBS) is detected (700). If the flag is 1 (702) the microphone is inserted and no send/end button press has occurred (704). If the flag is 0 (706) there is either no microphone or the switch has been activated (708). At this point the headset detect sense bit is detected (710). If this is 1 (712) the send/end button has been activated 714. If this second flag is 0 (716) there is no headset hence no microphone connected (718).

As previously indicated the head set detection sense (HSDET) may be determined using a jack barrel with additional pins which are connected to a dedicated detection circuit. An example of how this can be carried out is shown with respect to FIG. 8.

Generally the jack plug (not shown) will be pushed into connection in the region of pins 5 and 6 and in so doing will break contact made by the arrows 800 and 802 between pins 3 and 5 and pins 6 and 4. The fact that these contacts are broken is detectable by the circuit 804. The circuit includes an audio amp (HSR) for the right speaker, a first current source 806 connected between the audio amp pin HSR and ground; a comparator 808 having one input connected to detection pin HSDET and the second input connected to a reference voltage; a second current source connected between detection pin HSDET and Supply voltage Vaudio. The audio amp pin is connected on the phone board to pin 3 of the jack barrel. The detection pin HSDET is connected on the phone board to pin 5 of the jack barrel.

When there is no headset connected pins 5 and 3 are connected. The current of the first current source is greater than that of the second and hence the HSDET voltage is pushed to ground. This results in a HSDETS output 812 of zero (0).

When the headset is inserted the connection of 800 and 810 are broken thus the first current source is not connected and VAudio is the voltage on the HSDETS pin 814 is higher than the reference voltage of the comparator. This means the HSDETS output 812 is high (1).

It will be appreciated that the present invention disclosed a specific circuit which is not limited and is shown by way of example only variation of circuit components and lay out will be evident to the person skilled in the art. It will also be appreciated that the invention may apply to different circumstances that that of a telephone (or pda etc) and a headset.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment it will be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit, and scope of the invention. 

1. A detector for detecting a connection of an accessory including a microphone or the state of a switch associated with the microphone for a mobile device, wherein the detector comprises: a first flag generator for determining the connection of the accessory to thereby generate a first flag; a second flag generator for periodically detecting a signal above a predetermined threshold for each of two comparators, such that when the first flag is generated for a first time period one comparator output is detected and for a second time period a second comparator output; and wherein the combination of the first and second comparator output is indicative of a state and gives rise to a second flag; a lookup table for determining at least one of the group consisting of the connection of the accessory and the state of the microphone switch from the states of the first and second flags.
 2. The detector of claim 1, wherein the second flag generator includes: a high comparator having a first threshold; a low comparator having a second threshold; a high current source; a low current source; a microphone device which has a variable current response; wherein the current sources are switched on in a periodical manner and wherein the high current source is switched on for a fraction of the time of the low current source and wherein the current response of the microphone device is measured by the comparators to generate the second flag.
 3. The detector of claim 2, wherein the switch is connected in parallel to the microphone device.
 4. The detector of claim 2, wherein the high comparator measures the current response when the high current source is on and the low comparator measures the current response when the low current source is on.
 5. The detector of claim 4, wherein the high current source is on for about 1/100^(th) of the time for which the low current source is on.
 6. The detector of claim 2, further comprising a detection state machine for measuring the outputs from both comparators to generate the second flag.
 7. The detector of claim 2, wherein the detection state machine controls the switching of the current sources.
 8. The detector of claim 2, wherein the microphone device includes a JFET.
 9. The detector of claim 2, wherein determination of the connection of the microphone and/or the state of the microphone switch from the first and second flags is selected from the following: no headsets; headset without microphone; headset with microphone; headset with microphone, connected in serial with a closed switch; headset with microphone, connected in serial with an open switch; headset with microphone, connected in parallel with a closed switch; and headset with microphone, connected in parallel with an open switch.
 10. A mobile device including the detector of claim
 1. 11. The mobile device of claim 10, in the form of a mobile telephone.
 12. A headset including a microphone for use with the mobile device according to claim
 10. 13. A headset according to claim 12 including a parallel switch.
 14. A method of detecting a connection of an accessory including a microphone or the state of a switch associated with the microphone for a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of: determining the connection of the accessory to thereby generate a first flag; determining a second flag by periodically detecting a signal above a predetermined threshold for each of two comparators, and for one time period detecting the comparator output of one comparator and for another time period detecting the comparator output of the second comparator and combining the first and second outputs to indicate a state which gives rise to a second; determining at least one of the group consisting of the connection of the microphone and the state of the microphone switch from the states of the first and second flags.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining the second flag includes switching on a first current source for a first period of time and determining the current response of a microphone device by comparing the output thereof with a first threshold of the first comparator to produce a first output, switching on a second current source for a second period of time and determining the current response of the microphone device by comparing the output thereof with a second threshold of the second comparator to produce a second output, using the first and second outputs to generate the second flag.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of connecting the switch in parallel with the microphone device.
 17. The method of claims 15, further comprising controlling the switching of the current sources in a periodical time varying manner.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising switching on the first comparator for about 1/100^(th) the time of the second comparator.
 19. A computer program comprising instructions for carrying out operations for detecting the connection of an accessory including a microphone or the state of a switch associated with the microphone for a mobile device when said computer program is executed on a computer system, the operations comprising: determining the connection of the accessory to thereby generate a first flag; determining a second flag by periodically detecting a signal above a predetermined threshold for each of two comparators, and for one time period detecting the comparator output of one comparator and for another time period detecting the comparator output of the second comparator and combining the first and second outputs to indicate a state which gives rise to a second; determining at least one of the group consisting of the connection of the microphone and the state of the microphone switch from the states of the first and second flags.
 20. The detector of claim 3, wherein the high comparator measures the current response when the high current source is on and the low comparator measures the current response when the low current source is on. 